Sex and The City 2.............. Roll on May 28th .....

My New Fav stamp.............

................... and guess what it's a Hero Arts................... Design Block!

S5264 Antique Flower Background.

Please check out the Personal Impressions Website for stockists near you.

Anyway here is a quick tutorial for a shabby background using this impressive stamp.

You will need:

Hero Arts Antique Flower Background stamp S5264

Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Broken China, Faded Jeans and Walnut stain.

Ranger Mini Mister or Water bottle

White Linen Card

1. Ink up the stamp will all three colours of Inks, starting with the lightest colour first

2. Spray the stamp lightly with water

3. Stamp your background onto the linen card. Make sure you press down firmly all over the image as it is a large stamp.

4. Your background image is complete.

Check out the March issue of "Making Cards Magazine" for a series of cards for men using this stamp.

Enjoy,

Love Sarah xxx

Merry Christmas

Evening Everyone,

Just wanted to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you to all my regular class attendants, blog readers and friends, may I wash you all the very best for 2010.

Looking forward to crafting with you next year.

With lots of Love Sarah xxx

New Hero Arts Catalog

Good Morning Everyone, OMG how excited am I?

The new Hero Arts Catalog is now out, go to the Hero Blog to download a online version.

I am gonna have to save, save, save for the next few weeks there are so many new stamp designs in both cling and wood mounted that I NEED!!!!!

Here's a few to tempt you....

Wowzers... Catch you later

Love Sarah xxx

New Distress Colours Ink Pads............ Dawn & JJ's Christmas Party

Good Morning Everyone

What a weekend?

It first Started off with Eamon McCrossan's Passing out parade, we were all so very proud if him. It was a lovely day and ended with a meal at the Royal Phoenix in Oswaldtwistle, the meal was great.

Friday was our first Christmas Day, as many of you know we have 2 Christmas Day's every year, one with Ewan's Family (usual in Ireland) and one with mine here in Oswaldtwistle.

This year we had Eamon, Mum and Dad and Mini Egg (Erin) all at our house for a fantastic weekend.

Topped off by a smashing party at Dawn and JJ's house. I missed last years party, so this year I took Mini Egg and we had a right giggle. Dawn and JJ are such good hosts, they looked after us so well.

Now then, I was looking at Tim's Blog and guess what...... well as many of you know I LOVE all the distress inks and have all the CURRENT colours....... well 12 new colours are going to be launched new year. This is what they look like.

My first purchase will be the Crushed Olive green I think. Just one problem - I have the Distress Ink metal holder, and I can't fit any more in, DOH!!!!!!!

Check out Tim's Blog for other new TH products released 2010!

Catch you all later

Love Sarah xxxx

For Sale................

Just a quick one

I have a set of the new Christmas Borders embossing folders by cuttlebug for sale, I purchased these and have had a go and found they are really not for me.

I have the receipt but have chucked away the packaging so I can't take them back for a refund.

They RRP at about £10.00, and they are brand new so I am looking for £7.50 + £1.00 p & p

Drop me a line on the below email address is you are interested, (or leave me a comment) it will be on a first come first served basis. I take payment by paypal and will send them first class.

ewanmccrossan@talktalk.net

Love Sarah xxx

Busy Old Weekend......................

Good Evening everyone,

After spending a day working at the Dawn Bibby Design Studio on Saturday you would think I was going to give myself a break today, well no such luck.

First it was Christmas shopping, then ironing, then sat at the computer typing card instructions for magazine articles!

It has just been non stop since I came back from Ireland.

I have a really busy week at work lined up too, I am launching a 2010 calendar for my safety scheme, using hand drawn images from School Children in Blackburn with Darwen, so a launch party on Tuesday and still needs lots of organising!

Anyway back to cards, here are some cards that I have been selling this year, I have to say not many people have managed to order from me as I have been so busy, just my Nana, and a few work colleagues who have been on bended knee for a few sets. I don't know.

Anyway I only have 3 packs of 5 left, so I think I'm gonna use these for some of my dear crafting friends...............

I have some nice designs to share with you soon, so keep your eyes peeled this week.

Take Care

Love Sarah xxx

L'Occitane Hand Cream

Morning Everyone,

Here is just a quick post, I have just purchased yesterday a tube of hand cream from L'Occitane, and as many of you know I have very dry skin and in particular on my hands due to eczema.

I am currently battling, as the cold weather is so harsh and the steroid creams do get unbearable.

However I have found a miracle cream.

Its only £16.50 for 150ml and to me it's worth £0000. Already after just a few applications my hands are looking loads better, and they smell nice too!

It's worth a try!

Love Sarah xxx

Workshops and updates.....

Good Evening everyone,

Sorry I have been AWOL for the past week, but this time of year seems to be non stop!

Here are are a few snaps from my workshop last weekend, we did have some fun as well as getting down to the very serious business of making 7 cards.

In between scoffing Ewan's Chocolate Brownies and Dorothy's delicious Carrot cake, we did manage the do the job in hand and learn some new techniques and have a play with new Bo Bunny Papers and Hero Arts Stamps......

As modled by the Lovely Margret, my beautiful new scarf handmade by Dee Pilling, I love it!

I've got a really busy week ahead too, not only is it Eamon's Passing out parade on the 17th December, but then we will have Ewan's Mum, Dad, Brother & one of his sisters Erin coming down to stay with us!

On top of that I still need to do some Christmas Shopping, visit Nana and Granddad, See Uncle Chris and Aunt Babs plug work full time and decorate the living room.......... I just don't know where I am.

Anyway hope your all working hard on your Christmas cards, I know I am - tonight I need to finish off an order for my Nana!

So Take Care, promise I'll do the You Tube Demo this weekend!!!!

Love Sarah xx

Christmas Card's for Moi.

Good Evening everyone,

After designing Christmas Cards for workshops, residential weekends and Magazine Articles, you would have thought that I would be sick of them........ but no I have really enjoyed designing my own Christmas Cards for this year.

Here is one of the designs.

It's using Penny Black's Fantasy tree stamp as the focal image, stamped using Mellow Moss ink and textured card from Stampin Up! The background is Hero Arts Holly Swirl design block, again using Mello Moss Ink and card, the patterned paper is from Making Memories, red bazzil punched using Stampin Up's scalloped edger punch, and finally a touch of green satin ribbon from my collection.

I will be uploading the video of this card on to you tube some stage this week.

Dinner time now so catch you later,

Sarah xxx

And breath…………………. & Making Cards Magazine

I went back to work today for a rest, after the hectic but fun weekend residential with Dawn and the team.
It was just great, we had a ball and I am sure everyone who attended had a great time too?

Working the weekend after a busy week in my “real” with the NHS can sometimes be hard and very tiring, but working with a nice bunch of people makes it a joy! Although the rest of Dawn's Team worked flat out all week to help get things preped and organised before the weekend!

I was working alongside the lovely Amy Shaw (Dawn’s Niece wwwsimplicityinscrapping.blogspot.com) on Saturday which I thoroughly enjoyed and next to Gill and the fabulous Lindsay Mason on Sunday!

Always a pleasure to meet up with the delicious Paula Pascual, any opportunity to have a chin wag and swap crafting tips and Ideas!!!

This is the card I designed for the technique day on Sunday, using my favourite Hero Art’s Stamps.

Mixed with Nestabilities Labels 8 to make the card base and paper matt.
Products available at the Dawn Bibby Design Studio, or check out the “Personal Impressions” website for stockists near you!

I met some really great people during the weekend, Julie Hickey who designs for Craftwork Cards, was one of the tutors for the weekend, and guess who else turned up and did a bit of crafting with us……………… Craig Rowe, presenter from QVC and his lovely friend Angel joined us and had a lovely time.

As well as new friends like Melanie Marsh, Tina, Nicola, Miriam and Hilli, I was so happy to see many familiar faces too, Sylvie and Amanda, Sue Brown x 2, and many, many more……

Now then on to some great news for me I have just had my very first article published in Making Cards Magazine, December 2009 issue.
The cards in the article I designed quite a while ago now, but they are really lovely yet so simple to make.
Please look out for some really beautiful designs soon to be published in the next edition of Making Cards.

I haven’t forgotten about some blog candy, I will get photos and blog again later tonight.

Also later this week I am going to run a Ink Pad Tutorial, (my suggestions and preferences) so if your new to stamping or just wanted some hints and tips about certain types or brands of ink pads, check out later.
If you have any questions please leave a comment on here and I will add to my tutorial.

Take care, Love Sarah xxx

Dawn Bibby's Residential Weekend

Hello Blogger's,

Wow the days are just whizzing by, no sooner have I just had my November Workshop than I'm getting ready for Dawn's BIG residential weekend.

It's this Saturday and Sunday at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, 72 crafters will be along sampling the delights that dawn and her team have come up with.

On Sunday it's make and take day, where all the tutors have their own designed project to teach. My design is using one of the new Hero Arts Cling stamps, Basic Grey Papers, Inks and gems.

Looking forward to seeing some of the ladies from last time, I know Sylvie is coming, now I wonder if Baby giraffe from Dublin will be attending too? (Hope so)

We'll have a smashing time. Will take my camera and take some great snaps to post on here!

Anyway lots to do.

Oh watch out for a Blog Candy give away starting this weekend!!!!

See you soon

Love Sarah xxx

So much to tell you, so little time..... Workshops in Ireland

Good Morning Everyone,

And what a nice crisp morning it is too?

Just back from holiday had a lovely time and had a fab birthday, Ewan treated me to a Pandora bracelet with 4 beads, I really love the Mariano class beads.

Ewan's Mum, Carol trimmed the house with girly pink balloons and banners and we had Chocolate Cake!!!

On Monday evening last week we payed a visit to Mary McAnally who lives just outside St Johnstone, (Co. Donegal Ireland) and has a nice cuppa and a show round her beautiful and FULL craft room, what a nice lady!

Back to work and back to planning this Sunday's workshop.

I have really enjoyed using some vintage style Christmas papers from the new Making Memory's Christmas line, it's so cute with tiny little birds, also a fab new stamp from Hero Arts Holly Swirls Design Block (of course one of my classes would not be complete without the obligatory Hero Arts stamp now would it???)

Also in my class is a little triple embossing, Nestabilities and lots of fun and cake!

Will post a photo or two later today.

Also if there are any blogging peeps over in the Donegal area of Eire I am planning to do a two day workshop at the St Johnstone Resource Centre early spring 2010, at this stage it is only in the planning, but please drop me a line if you would like to register interest. More details comming soon....

See you soon,

Love Sarah xxx

Making Smiles on Faces Award

Well I have been passed this on from Lindsay Mason, I will pass on to 5 other blogger and tell you 5 interesting faces about me! (although I am not the most interesting person in the world)

1. I was taught to play Tennis by non other than Fred Perry himself and attended his 80th (or was is 70th) birthday party as his guest in Berlin!

2. I have lived in Germany and Cyprus as a child, and only moved to England when I was 13 years old, while I lived in Berlin I attended a School trip to witness the Wall coming down !!!

3. I was first introduced into card making in 2004 by mother-in-law Carol McCrossan.

4. I played Badminton for Lancashire as a teenager and attended trials for the England under 21 team, but did not make it!

5. I was in the Army Cadets and was the best markswoman in 1996 for Lancashire again under 21's!

All rather boring stuff I know, but hey all true!

Now for passing them on......
1. Jan Bloomfield - PI
2. Mandy Carter, a great friend of mine
3. Eily McCrossan, one of my sisters in-Law
4.Est http://crafti-n-est.blogspot.com/
5. My darling Ewan, he always make me smile!

Take Care
Love Sarah (packing I have just upped the anti) xxx

The Demo Day,

Good Evening All,

Here are some of the photos from my demo day yesterday at the DB design studio.

We had a great day, I was working with the new Christmas Cuttlebug embossing folders and the New Christmas collections from Craftworkcards.

I was set next to the fantastic and very talented Jane, who was working with the Melt pot, UTEE and Crafty Individuals stamps, right behind me was the lovey Lindsay Mason, who was up to her usual "tricks" with Ranger Inks, and some of Tim's new stamps.

Jane

UTEE

Lindsay Mason
some of the Lovely Lindsay's samples.................... yum yum!!

Also on our table was the fabulous Jo who was working with some clear stamps, Stamp and Bond and gilding flakes.

It was so lovely to meet a few of you and have a good old natter for a change.

Anyway better get a move on, we are on holiday from tomorrow and will be with Ewan's Mum and Dad in Ireland for a week (not even packed yet) and I have a magazine article deadline to meet for first thing tomorrow too - eck!

So good night everyone,

Take care

Love Sarah xxx

Tomorrow...... at the DB Design Studio

Good Evening All,

Just to let you all know that I will be demonstrating at the Dawn Bibby Design Studio tomorrow.

The lovely Lindsay Mason will be showcasing her own rubber stamp designs, along side Mary, Brenda and Jane.

I will be working with the latest Cuttlebug Christmas Embossing folders, and craftwork cards Joy and Candy Cane Christmas collection packs, yum yum!

Hope you could pop in and say hello!!

Love Sarah xx